Mikel Leshoure hasn’t asked for trade, but wants to play

Before the Colts traded for Trent Richardson, there was talk that they might be interested in swinging a deal to acquire running back Mikel Leshoure from the Lions.

Leshoure has been buried on the depth chart in Detroit behind Reggie Bush, Joique Bell and rookie Theo Riddick, leading some to assume that Leshoure would welcome a deal that sends him to another team. Leshoure said Wednesday that he hasn’t formally requested a trade out of Detroit, but he sounded like he’d be okay with it if it meant a chance to show that he’s “better than a reserve player.”

“It’s frustrating,” Leshoure said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “You want to play, obviously, and you want to be out there, especially knowing that you can help. It’s frustrating. I don’t really know what the issue is, why I wouldn’t be out here and why I didn’t play. But I didn’t. That’s pretty much it.”

Birkett reports that several teams inquired about Leshoure’s availability in the offseason, but Leshoure said that General Manager Martin Mayhew told him that the team had no plans to move him off the roster. That leaves Leshoure playing “security blanket” even as he wants a much more immediate role in the team’s offense.

Here’s a hint: you’ve been outplayed by an undrafted D2 player named Joique Bell. Leshoure would be better suited for a ground a pound team that runs the ball a lot. Detroit’s offense is suited for more slasher type runners.